It seemed that Damon was indeed that stupid. 

Or maybe he just snapped, too many years living with the shame and stigma of being unfavored, of losing to those younger yet stronger than you, of knowing that the vampires who call themselves your allies are really more interested in their next meal than in what you may or may not be planning. 

Or who may or may not be planning something against you. 

That was why he had moved to California. Europe had grown too confining for him; he had wanted a fresh start as it were, to be able to start again. Unfortunately, Vampire Laws never changed. Never. And vampires tended to have long memories. Very long, they never forgot a slight, never forgot an insult either to them or, depending on the vampire and the infraction, to their childer. 

He had planned on coming to Angelus’ little gathering, seeing the lay of the land, and quietly slipping away with as little social interaction as he could manage. Damon knew that Angelus was after him; no one was stupid enough to think otherwise. And Paul had never really wanted the alliance that had fostered between them. It had honestly been pure coincidence that Damon had saved Paul’s life; Paul, however, never truly believed that. 

Saffir was a different matter entirely. Damon wanted her, obsessed over her as he had little else in his long years. Her beauty, her body…the fact that she hated every second she spent with him but could do nothing about it. 

Yet when he saw both her and Paul offering their Blood Oath to Angelus and his whore of a mate (a slayer of all creatures, really how disloyal of the famed vampire), something deep within Damon had shattered. He really had expected Paul and Saffir to ally with Angelus; he was strong, vicious, knew what he wanted, and didn’t stop until he had it. 

But the Blood Oath? That was…unprecedented. It hadn’t been used in centuries no vampire wanted to be held to such a binding and final vow especially when clans were vying for dominance all over the globe. Yet Paul and Saffir had just done so. 

Or maybe Damon really had intended to attack someone this night. 

The dagger he carried was a long ago gift from Aurelius, jewel encrusted, the blade was folded in the ancient samurai way and was nearly unbreakable. It also carried an incurable poison. 

“Traitor!” 

Saffir turned at the sound of her (former) lover’s voice, rolling instinctively out of the way without seeing either him or the dagger. The blade whooshed passed her missing her neck by scant inches as she continued her roll and stood. 

The crowd went wild; it wasn’t their fight so they naturally stayed out of the way. Vampires only fought when the insult was directed at them and usually had some kind of champion do the actual battling for them. Against another, though, was looked upon only as how it could be used to their advantage. 

But that didn’t stop the bets from being quickly placed, murmurs running through the onlookers as Saffir stood against her opponent. Calmly Saffir faced off against Damon, she had no weapon but wasn’t about to let that stand in the way of seeing that the scarred troll get what he deserved. She had had more than enough of him and this ended tonight. 

Feinting to the right, Saffir briefly thought about trying to get the knife away from Damon before realizing that he was arching it through the air too wildly for her to stand a chance. It wasn’t that she was concerned with being cut or even stabbed by the blade; she knew what poison it held and frankly wanted no parts of it. 

He had backed her up to the stage with his parries and Saffir realized that was his intent all along. He never wanted her; he just used her as a distraction. Damn vampire, she was not going to be used as a mere distraction to get to Buffy or Angelus. 

Although seeing the imbecile vampire against the two was more than enough for her to pause, however briefly, just so his suffering would be extended that much more. 

With a swift move, Saffir leapt onto the stage before executing a flip very similar to the one Buffy had done moments ago that brought her over Damon’s head, landing behind him. Her long leg came up, kicking the knife out of Damon’s hand, sending it clattering to the floor in front of Buffy who glanced at it briefly, while her hands wrapped themselves around his neck. 

But she did not twist. 

Damn it, three minutes, just three minutes earlier and she could have killed Damon but now that she had given her Blood Oath to Angelus and Buffy and as this was, after all, their party, they decided the vampire’s fate. Her golden eyes flashed to the stage, locking with Buffy then Angelus. She said nothing, everyone present knowing what she wanted. Yet it was still Angelus’ to give or not. 

“Saffir, bring him here.” He commanded, watching the struggling vampire with cold, calculating eyes.

She did as she was bade, easily walking the few feet to Angelus, halting two steps from the stage. Angelus leaned down, talking directly to Saffir. She was the one who was wronged, after all, and had the choice. He, too, had realized Damon’s intent and while he honestly hadn’t thought that the other vampire had had it in him, Angelus wasn’t too worried. 

“The quick kill or extended torture?” His question was simple, his eyes dark and compelling, drawing her in. 

Allowing a wide malicious grin to grace her features, Saffir nodded, “Torture, of course.” 

“I promised him to my childe, Spike. Are you willing to share?” 

She looked at this Master before her, wondering at the choice. “You are under no obligation, Saffir,” Angelus added as if he could read her mind, “To share anything, it is merely a simple question.” 

“Maybe,” she said, the grin never leaving her face, “If there’s anything left when I’m finished.” 

Angelus nodded once before standing to face the now silent crowd. “Damon of the Clan Aurelius, you now belong to Saffir Adenydd late of the de Chatworth Family of Kidwelly Castle of Wales, Childe of Paul Francis Claude Stewart of the Clan Dalriada of the Clan Aurelius. You are hers to do with as she sees fit.” 

Damon sputtered a bit but Angelus’ voice overrode his meager attempts at begging. “You were invited into my home and have repaid me with treachery and deceit. Attempting to murder one of my clan by right of Blood Oath. Saffir has decided to make your death painful and prolonged.” 

There was a cheer from the crowd at his sentence. It wouldn’t have mattered one way or the other, frankly, but demons did so love pain. 

With that, he dismissed the now worthless vampire and nodded as Saffir, Paul, and Spike escorted Damon into the wine cellar. Willow accompanied them only briefly to release the spell long enough for them to cross through to chain Damon up.

Turning back to the again silent crowd he asked, “Does anyone else wish to challenge me?” 

There were faint murmurs but no one came forth. Several vampires left and no more offered their oath to Angelus and Buffy, but no one challenged them, either. Nodding, Angelus gave them leave to resume their partying and turned his attention back to his family. 

Giles walked forward, his gaze following the group as they dispersed to the more debauch activities of the evening. He envied them that but knew his duty first; there was still plenty of time for play, he wasn’t at all worried. 

They had all studied the guest list, memorizing names and descriptions where a photo was not available. Keeping a close eye on those deemed a threat to their plan and a closer eye on potential allies. All but Buffy; the less interaction she had with the guests the better all around. At least for the moment. As soon as she rejoined the main party, there were sure to be admirers hounding her. 

“The vamp with the bald head and ponytail, Ra I believe, Gregor and at least several of his childer, Anthony of Pompeii.” 

“The Trylor Demon, I can’t pronounce his name, and that forked tongued creature? Hard to make out the words, but him as well.” Willow added as the musicians – on another stage in the opposite corner of the room – began to play again. 

Drusilla’s laughter tinkled through the room as she twirled around. “Silly, silly creatures. They know not who they are dealing with.” 

Buffy nodded at her mate’s childe, agreeing with her. And then wondered at how she had come to accept Drusilla in such a short amount of time. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that in addition to the oath and gift Dru had given her, Buffy knew that the other vampiress would never think to make a play for Angelus. At least not any more. 

“Those are the only ones against us?” That seemed too easy and Easy plus Buffy never really equaled out. 

Angelus placed his hand on her back, idly running his fingers over the cool skin found there. “Outright at least, the others may just be smart enough not to say anything against the host at his own party. Good then, those are the ones we deal with first. Giles, go to the cellar talk with Paul and his childe. See what they might know.” 

Buffy leaned into his hand as he shifted lower, caressing her ass through the crimson silk of the dress. “And send Spike up,” Buffy added, “I want to know what he heard.” 

Moreover, she didn’t think it was a good idea for both Paul and Spike to be in the same room with each other when Willow and or Drusilla weren’t there. That whole quad-relationship thing gave her a damn migraine. 

Giles smirked and nodded heading to his assigned task, understanding Buffy’s reasoning all too easily. But then he had years of practice in doing so. 

Buffy turned to her lover, smiling at him as his fingers skipped up her back, cupping her neck with one large hand. Sliding closer to him, she wound her arms around his neck, pulling him down until just a breath separated them. Her body molded perfectly with his, her every curve fitting with his every plane and angle. 

“I want you,” she said, a whisper along his jaw as her lips teased. 

Angelus clutched her closer, his need for her already at a fevered pitch. He caught her lips in a bruising kiss, hands tightening on her flawless skin. Her hips, thanks to those impossibly high heels but very much-appreciated heels, cradled his erection perfectly and he couldn’t wait to bury himself in her silken body. 

“Soon, my love, soon,” Angelus said, pulling away from the addicting embrace of his lover. 

“Drusilla, I want you and Willow to keep an eye on Ra and Gregor. I know Ra has a thing for you, Dru, so I expect you to use that accordingly. Willow, Gregor enjoys his magick but has nowhere the power you do. Make sure he can’t use that power here.” 

Willow nodded, already closing her eyes and concentrating on the energy flow of the house. She followed the faint line back to the vampire and delved deeper, into his hidden core that housed what magicks he had. Chanting low under her nonexistent breath, Willow closed off his access to those magicks and went find him. Paul would be coming back from his sojourn to the basement and Willow wanted to gather all the information she could before joining her lover. 

Drusilla looked at the door through which Spike had left and, without a word, went to find the wood be Egyptian god. His eyes would make a tasty meal, she thought as the music surrounded her, moving her feet in a rhythm all their own. And then she and her Spike would dance in his entrails, make love in his blood. 

Angelus turned back to his lover, “I want no one else to see you, my love.” He said, hands molding her breasts through the low cut fabric of the dress, tugging the nipples until they were hard and aching for his mouth. “You are mine and mine alone. No one else can have you: Ever.” 

But they couldn’t leave the party. It wasn’t good manners that prevented them from doing that so much as suspicion. When the only person you fully trusted was the one in your arms that left a lot of potential enemies. Childer notwithstanding. 

Walking her backwards, Angelus lowered himself to the chair in the shadows, drawing Buffy down with him even as he drew her dress over her hips. His fingers found her immediately, plunging into her wetness with no fanfare, elongated teeth scraping over every patch of exposed skin he could reach.

There was later for a more thorough exploration of her body and a fuller appreciation of those heels, but for now, he needed her. 

Unzipping his pants, pulling her onto his raging erection, Angelus hissed into the flesh of her neck as she engulfed him. Slowly she began to rock, setting the pace that would take them into oblivion. Faster and faster Buffy moved, raising herself over Angelus again and again hands gripping his broad shoulders for purchase, his hands urging her ever faster. 

The few guests who bothered to look in their direction knew, by the scents filling the air, what was happening in the shadowed corner. But even they, with their preternatural eyesight, couldn’t follow their movements. What was all but invisible to the human eye was a blur of motion to the vampire one. 

Buffy managed to restrain her scream of release but couldn’t stop her face from shifting. Drinking Angelus was as much a part of their mating as the sexual act itself. Licking the scar that had appeared after the Union Ritual, Buffy sank her fangs into the soft flesh, letting his spicy blood race over her tongue. And moaned in renewed pleasure as his own fangs found her brand, sinking into her neck, drawing deeply from her.
***********
The noise from the main floors drifted into the cellar giving them some notice when the new victim was brought down. 

Faith had decided that her death was so much preferable than whatever painful existence she was currently hanging from. Which was a really bad pun when one considered the fact that she was literally hanging in the basement of a mansion where former friends and allies were set on torturing her beyond her endurance. 

She knew that they weren’t through with her, yet her death would mean another slayer called so they weren’t going as hard on her as in the beginning. She was healing…slowly, but her physical wounds were slowly closing. It was the mental wounds that would never be repaired. They were raw and open, carefully sliced to inflict the most damage with the least words. 

So when they added another prisoner to the wall, taking up the former buffoon Hanks’ spot, Faith was to far gone in her own misery to notice. The voices in her head were reliving each and every word Giles, Angelus, Buffy, Willow had thrown at her. Her mom and her mother’s loser lover’s added their voices until the canopy was too much and Faith thought she’d scream from the noise. 

But then The Slayer took over, fighting for dominance, fighting to reconnect the parts that were her host into some kind of recognizable whole. Slayer realized that there were new players in the game and wanted to know how, why, whom. Unfortunately, for The Slayer she was dealing with people who were all too aware of the Power she wielded. 

Faith’s eyes snapped open at the voices and she tracked their movements across the stone floor. Calculating, following, and watching. Looking for a break, just a small crack where she could insinuate herself and possibly make the fracture larger. She had to try, the part of her that was FAITH had already given up, but the part of her that was FAITH SLAYER refused to. 

“Damon, Damon, Damon…what kind of an idiot are you? Waltzing into Angelus’ home and attacking his guests. If you wanted to put an end to your miserable life there are far easier ways to do so.” Spike shook his head as he shoved the other vampire particularly hard into the stonewall. 

“Actually if you were that hell bent on destroying your life, I would have been more than happy to do so. I wouldn’t want to put that much of a burden on your shoulders; I easily could have withstood it. With a song in my heart and a joyous smile on my face.” 

Glancing at the other chained humans as he secured Damon’s own chains, he noticed Faith’s predatory gaze. Hmm, interesting how the secondary slayer – or was she The One And Only now that Buffy was no longer human? Didn’t matter she thought she was and whatever was not slayer was no longer important. But that didn’t matter either. 

“See,” Spike continued in a jovial voice as he stepped back to join Saffir and Paul. “Now you don’t have a choice. Naturally, there is no escape. Just ask Lilah here, oh wait, you can’t, she’s unconscious again.” 

Spike shook his head as Paul moved closer to look at the carving on the comatose woman’s torso. Raising an eyebrow at the blonde vampire Paul shook his head – it really did look like Buffy – and resumed his stance by his childe as Spike went on. “Or Faith who’s currently trying to look intimidating and all slayer-like. See, mate, even the slayer can’t escape.” 

Spike’s grin only widened at Faith’s look. It was good to be back. At the moment, he didn’t even mind the fact that his lover’s lover was right there, so very close to him. But they were all family now and it would never do to attack family.
~~~~~~~~
Damon was in shock. 

He had failed. He had tried to get to his most hated enemy and he had failed. In trying to get to his most hated enemy, he had attempted to remove the vampiress who had been his reluctant lover for the past decade; he had failed in that as well. This was all her fault; Saffir had no idea what she had done, to whom she had allied herself. 

As the small group walked him into the basement, Damon neither struggled nor said a word. What good would it do? Not only did he understand Vampire Law all too well, but he also knew Angelus. And Angelus would never let something like this go without just punishment. This time the punishment was going to be at the hands of Saffir. 

And the worst part was that Damon knew he wasn’t going to die. He was going to be forced to live until Saffir or Angelus or any number of Angelus’ childer tired of him. Only then would he be allowed final death. 

It shamed him to admit it, but he found that much more preferable than being chained to the wall for the next however many years. Vampires could withstand more torture than the average human, seemingly indefinitely, mending broken bones, healing intestines and damaged and unused organs…so long as sufficiently fed 

Unless… 

Damon slowly turned his head to look at the females chained beside him. The middle one was the slayer, he could tell even before Spike’s announcement of that fact. It was some innate feeling every vampire had when faced with the most hated enemy of their race. Their eyes locked for a brief moment as the three unchained vampires moved away. 

She was beaten, starved, beaten again until she was all but broken. But there was a fire burning behind her eyes that was not to be ignored. Maybe, Damon thought though he had no real idea how it would possibly work, they could use each other to escape.
~~~~~~~~
“Spike,” Giles called from the doorway, walking to meet the others. “Buffy wishes to speak with you.” 

Spike nodded. “Any other takers?” 

The feral smile that crossed Giles’ face was enough to let the older vampire know that that was not the case, “Of course not. No one…well,” Giles amended with a nod towards a silent Damon, “Not many are stupid enough to attack Angelus and Buffy in their own home.”

They shared a laugh for both had seen Buffy in action before her transformation; to think that she’d be in any way weaker now was simple absurd. As for Angelus, his reputation was normally enough to instill fear in the dead hearts of his enemies, to see him in action was to quell any and all thoughts of engaging him in a fight. 

With a final nod to the former watcher and their new family members, Spike headed back up the stairs knowing that either Giles or Willow would lower the magickal barrier long enough for him to pass. Whistling, he went to find Buffy who was no doubt shagging his sire about now. How they were going to manage to take over the world when they couldn’t keep their hands off each other was a mystery to Spike but, as was usually the case with his Sire, he went with the flow. 

Granted, she probably did wish to speak with him, but he wasn’t stupid enough to think that was the only reason. Paul had just given his Blood Oath to them; it wouldn’t do for he and Spike to fight so soon afterwards.
~~~~~~~~~
Giles watched Faith out of the corner of his eye. Not as defeated as they had thought then, was she? Just as well, the fun wasn’t in breaking – okay that was really fun – but in watching the victim try and recover only to be broken again. Faith was more resilient than any of them had given her credit for. How interesting…and fun. 

“Giles, I’d like to introduce my Favored Childe, Saffir,” Paul said as they moved slowly out of the wine cellar to rejoin the party upstairs. There was plenty of time later for Saffir to introduce Damon to the fine art of torture; no sense missing the fun upstairs when the fun here could wait a day or two. She possessed a wonderful hand at torture, having learned from the English long before he had found and sired her. 

Bowing and raising her hand to his lips, Giles acknowledge her, “It is indeed an honor to meet you, Saffir.” 

Saffir smiled back; so this was the mystery man she had spotted earlier in the evening. Interesting, was it not? How things sometimes just fell into place when and where one least expected it. “And you, Giles…Giles.” She paused, wondering where she knew that name. “The Watcher? You were The Slayer’s Watcher?” 

Giles laughed at her reaction. It wasn’t often that he was as recognized as his darling girl was. “Yes, though I’m sure the Watcher’s Council would disagree with you on that point as they’ve fired me a number of times.” 

Impressed with the relationship between Slayer and Watcher, quite often the only relationship between slayer and her watcher was a training bond with possibly concern thrown in, Saffir said, “She brought you over with her?” 

Then shook her head at herself for of course that was true as evidenced by the fact that she was upstairs with her mate and Giles was down here. And not chained or tortured. “What’d she do, bring the whole family?” 

Giles laughed, enjoying the woman. “No,” he said with a look behind him at Faith, “Not…all of us.” 

He really wished he had been there for Xander’s torture and eventual kill. Hearing about it wasn’t nearly as fun as witnessing it. And he had so often wished to pummel the child for one reason or another. Too bad Angelus hadn’t turned him just to continue the torture; now that would have been entertaining. 

“So tell me, Giles,” Saffir continued, shaking her head at that cryptic statement and linking arms with him, leading him back up the stairs to where the music had changed to a sultry pounding rhythm, “What kind of family have I bound myself to?”
**********
The party was in full swing by the time Giles, Saffir, and Paul rejoined it. 

Spike was actually not talking to Buffy as she was currently riding her mate with abandon in one of the shadowed chairs adorning the stage. So he was smoking several feet in front of the stage, watching the beings watch the mating couple with a warning glint in his eye. Now that he was back in his sire’s good graces, William the Bloody didn’t plan on ever being out of them again. 

More than one person here desired, openly or not, either Angelus or Buffy or both. And Spike knew that not all of them would be leaving with all their limbs intact at the end of their stay if the mated couple had anything to say about it. The two were obsessively protective of the other and it didn’t exactly breed trust. There were several emotions currently floating around the room mostly directed at them: curiosity, lust, jealously, hatred, just to name a few. 

And who said demons couldn’t feel? 

Giles walked closer to the blonde vampire, sparing one final glance at Saffir who had so completely captured his attention as she walked into another room with her sire. “Where’s Drusilla?”

Jerking his head off to the side as he glared at a vampiress in a leopard print dress who had wandered to close to the invisible line he had mentally marked off, Spike said, “Networking. She’s with Ra now; I assume that Angelus wanted her to keep an eye on him? Just as well as he’s the most powerful of those here. Always had this thing about being a god, though; it got to be real annoying. And Willow? Is she doing the same?” 

Nodding, Giles agreed. “Yes, it’s best to learn as much as we can before they leave. However Buffy was supposed to talk with you about what you had learned before their announcement, not shag her mate.” 

Spike snorted in agreement as they heard Buffy move off Angelus, sighing his name as she did so. Still not turning – his sire would eviscerate him on the spot for daring to look at his mate with out permission and while Spike was fairly sure Buffy was fully clothed, Angelus would do worse to anyone else, he wasn’t taking any chances. Instead he told Giles what he knew. Which wasn’t much, he hadn’t trust the so called god with his Drusilla and had kept a close eye on her, but it may prove important nonetheless. 

“The east coast clans are fragmented, no real master; or at least no one who can take control long enough to restore some kind of stability and become master. Several of the older childer of two of the stronger rival orders have expressed an interest in ‘joining’ our little group. But I’m not sure if they’re acting on their own or in the interests of their sires.” Spike shrugged, “Or if it’s all just a ruse.” 

When Spike said east coast he didn’t just mean of America. He meant of the whole continent; vampires weren’t as limited to international borders as humans. As such the two actual Orders, not just Clans, the Order of Liguria, based in Quebec City and the Order of Axum, based in Atlanta, fought incessantly over territory and rights and bringing in as many smaller clans as possible. They were ancient orders but their masters weren’t that old, half a century at the most, and couldn’t quite grasp the whole domination concept. 

As in dominate your childer first and only those enemies you can actually conquer second. 

Spike explained a little more of what he had heard to Giles but they both came to the same conclusion: North America was ripe for their taking. Vampires tended to follow the strongest leader. Naturally infighting and rebels were always found, but that was to be expected when everyone thought they were the strongest. 

And when childer went against their sires, it was usually a good sign that they no longer considered said sires to be the biggest and the strongest. 

“Point out who you heard talking, Spike, let me see what else I can find.” Giles said as Angelus and Buffy joined them on the floor. 

His nose twitching at the scents coming from the recently sated couple, Spike turned towards them and repeated what he had said to Giles. Buffy nodded at her former watcher, agreeing with his assessment of the situation and the next step. She trusted her childe and saw no reason to contradict his view just for the hell of it. 

“Giles take Saffir,” she instructed, “I know she’s Paul’s childe but I want to keep a better eye on her. A Blood Oath is all well and good and extremely binding, but I want to know how much we can trust them with our plans now that they’re family. If you feel we can, have her help with the information gathering.” 

Angelus turned to his childe, “Spike, find Drusilla, I want her protected; Ra thinks she’s mostly harmless and I don’t want anyone finding out otherwise.” Drusilla was vicious true and had her own reputation, but most vampires believed her to be too crazy to be truly a threat to anyone but humans. He didn’t want their view to change until he was ready for it to do so. 

Giles nodded and went to find the vampiress. Truth be told, it wasn’t such a hard thing to agree to as he had already known Buffy would want more information about their new allies. They hadn’t had time to really discuss all they knew but doing so with so many present wasn’t the best time; that would come within the next couple of days. For now it was simply more information gathering. Plus he felt a definite attraction towards the older vampire and wanted time to indulge in it. 

He found her mingling with several others, laughing, though the sounds seemed strained to him, as they recounted something or other. Giles smoothly intervened, sweeping his hard gaze around the group and saying, “So sorry to interrupt, but I need a word with Saffir.” No one objected of course. 

Saffir sighed with relief when they were far enough away. “Dance with me?” She asked, setting her flute on the nearest flat surface which happened to be one of the steps leading upstairs. 

The orchestra was good, Giles gave them that, they played exactly what Angelus had instructed; the classics, the waltz, and several arias from his favorite operas. As he led Saffir around the floor to a tune from Strauss, Giles asked, “Did I take you away from friends of yours?” 

Flashing a brilliant smile, she answered honestly, “No, just vamps who find themselves all too amusing and think everyone else should as well.” 

“In my experience, that describes most vampires.” Giles said dryly, earning another chuckle from the vision in his arms. “They all think they’re the Big Bad with wit to boot. In the past that was their downfall: they overestimated their prowess and Buffy always dusted them before partying.” 

Saffir agreed but didn’t comment on his easy reference to Buffy and slaying; her eyes locked with his and she saw the affection he had for his former charge. Fascinating. She was more than curious about this man, this former watcher, the childe of a turned slayer – Saffir had never heard of that happening actually and wondered at it – and a formidable warrior in his own right. Plus she had spotted him earlier and wanted him then, events of the past few hours only strengthened that want. 

All good things come to those who wait…wasn’t that the old saying? 

“So tell me, Giles, childe of Buffy the former Vampire Slayer. What kind of back story did I miss? Angelus and the Slayer as Joined Mates? It simply boggles the mind. That’s new and, considering that ‘new’ rarely occurs to those of us who plan on living for eternity, quite a surprise.” 

The song changed but Giles never released his partner. “It’s a long story, very drawn out but fairly interesting. Suffice it to say, some things even Fate cannot cheat.”
~~~~~~~~~
“So, the Blood Oath,” Willow said upon spying Paul. He had obviously sought her out and was currently leading her on a brief tour of the gardens she already knew so well. Just as well as there were no inquisitive ears out here just waiting for a piece of gossip to spread. 

“Seemed the way to go, actually.” Her companion replied as he turned his eyes to the night sky. 

“Since you gave it I assume you meant it.” Willow said no more, her first duty was to her sire and her family. If Paul truly intended to join them then she’d welcome him into their family and into her bed. But if he didn’t, she’d dust him herself. 

Turning to her, Paul took her hand and raised it to his lips. She was truly magnificent, slender muscles defined her body, eyes that drew one in, power streaming off her in bright waves. And she was everything he’d ever want in a lover, in a consort. 

“I’m not stupid, Willow, I know that Angelus has something planned. I admit; I’ve grown bored with this existence. The same thing day in and day out, my clubs are the only thing that keep me connected in any way with this world. I don’t acknowledge my own master, he’s in Europe someplace doing I don’t even know what and has no real interest in anything outside his small circle. My Sire is dust, killed by a slayer long, long ago.” 

He glanced back at the stars, so very different from his native Scotland sky, before continuing. “I have no interest in taking over anything. I prefer to be left alone to my own desires, subject to the whim of no one. I know Angelus; he was made to lead. I’ll follow him because he IS the strongest, together he and Buffy are strong enough to bring order to our world, something that hasn’t existed in thousands of years. It’s a great proposition all around, actually.” 

Willow took a moment to look at her new lover. He seemed to be telling the truth, she sensed no deceit from him but more importantly, she wanted to believe him. Oh, that couldn’t be good. She wanted to believe him therefore he had to be telling the truth? What had happened to her? Damn it, her new life wasn’t supposed to be like this at all. 

“I believe you,” she found herself saying despite her inner argument. “Though I have no idea why,” Willow added with a small laugh at her own thoughts and feelings. 

“Come on, Paul, I have things to attend to.” Willow took his offered arm and they started back for the house. “Have you been assigned rooms yet?” 

“Yes, ironically enough, yours.” 

“Good then that saves us from rearranging…and from me having to kill someone.”
~~~~~~~~~~
So, everyone’s taken care of, our little family all have their assignments, I think this night worked out just fine.” Buffy said as she danced with her lover. 

It had been only slightly difficult to get him to dance with her; they were playing music he knew, after all. But her mate had no sense of rhythm when it came to music, no sense of tone either, but that was why he hired musicians. They waltzed through several songs before opting for a slower pace. 

They moved together slowly, their bodies complementing each other as the music flowed around them. Angelus raised their joined hands to his mouth, placing a soft kiss on her fingers. They were conversing in low tones, knowing the hearing range for demons was usually much longer than humans but still refrained from discussing too important a topic: Trust was a real issue. 

Both knew that they were the subject of just about every conversation in the house, but neither could bring themselves to care overmuch. It was to be expected when one made a proclamation such as they had. 

“I admit,” Angelus said as the song changed but they continued to move together. “I didn’t expect Paul and his childe to take the Blood Oath. I was more than happy to have him as a bonded ally, but this…this is even better. The Oath can never be broken, it’s utterly binding.” 

Buffy shrugged, resting her head in the hollow of his shoulder where she had always done so. “Maybe Willow knows something. Or,” She said as his hand softly caressed her bare back, “Maybe that’s why he did it. Because of her.” 

“Perhaps,” her lover agreed, “Perhaps.” 

“So,” Buffy said changing the subject. “Who’s the ho in the leopard dress?” At his questioning look she elaborated. “I have to kill her, baby, I’m sorry.” Though she didn’t sound in the least bit so. “She obviously doesn’t know who to keep her eyes off of and was staring at you like she wanted you for her main course.” 

Laughing loud enough to draw attention, Angelus couldn’t do anything but agree. He didn’t know who she was talking about but it ultimately didn’t matter.

“She’s all yours, my love. Just remember to do the killing outside, vampire dust floats around for days, we’ll never get it all cleaned up.”
**********
“This is a bad, bad idea.” 

“We’re just going to go in, have a little look around, and see what the situation is.”

Cordelia turned to her companion in utter disbelief. “Do you hear yourself? Do you even hear the words that are coming out of that sexy mouth of yours?” 

Riley looked at her patiently. “I know what I’m proposing may be considered suicide in most circles of the world, but this is truly our only hope. And my God how Star Wars does that sound?” Shaking his head at the direction of his thoughts, Riley continued, ”We have to know what’s going on, we have no useful information; we don’t even have all of the players in this new game. If we don’t do this then everything we’ve fought for is beyond lost.” 

It had been less than two weeks since they had joined forces and in that time Cordelia realized two things. One was that she had been lonely for entirely too long and Riley obviously needed someone; his love for his wife had not diminished and it was mostly empty sex but it was comforting enough to see them through the interminable hours between sleeping and waking. In a war where battle lines were redrawn with every unneeded breath comfort was accepted where it could be found. 

The second was that she had found the will to fight again. 

How ironic was it that on what was most definitely a suicide mission she had discovered that she wasn’t as dismissive about life and death things as she had come to believe? And how typical was it that she had discovered this about herself while trying to help the ex-lover of her one time friend? 

The Fates were out to get her; Cordelia just knew it. 

“I hate you, Riley” Cordelia said, knowing he had a least a small point and hating him all the more for that. But she placed a hand on his arm and kissed his lips softly to let him know that despite her words, her feelings were not so. However she couldn’t resist adding, “This is such a bad idea.” 

“It’s actually much worse than that.” A new voice said from the shadows. 

Immediately the duo whirled to face this newcomer, fighting stance to the fore. A young woman, late twenties, curly light brown hair, medium height stepped out into the pool of light. They were several blocks from Angelus’ home and were still trying to decide if sneaking in was truly the best way to go about this. Or Cordelia was; Riley had already made up his mind.

 “Don’t I know you?”

“I’m Carisa; I work for Wolfram & Hart. Lilah Morgan to be specific.” 

Cordelia relaxed her stance, eyeing the other woman with an air of disdain and suspicion, “And how is the little bitch?” 

“Missing,” Carisa said succinctly, “And you’re going to help me find her.” 

Cordelia laughed, loud and long; she laughed for the first time in entirely too long, a real laugh that eased the tension in her body and made her feel younger than she had in ages. Since she had gotten these damn visions, since joining the fight against evil and discovering that the good guys didn’t always win. 

“Oh, that’s just great, really, Carisa, really.” Cordelia said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Wow, that’s just what I needed, thanks. But I don’t know how to break this to you.” She said suddenly sobering. 

“See, you,” and she pointed to the woman. “Are evil, and we,” Cordelia gestured to Riley and herself, “Are the good guys. Evil,” pointing again to Carisa, “Good,” waving at Riley again. “It doesn’t work like that. We’re mortal enemies, we fight you, and if Wolfram & Hart can’t find one of their own then really, how is that our problem?” 

Carisa walked a step closer, holding out a folder several inches thick. “It’s your problem when we have the same problem. Angelus has Lilah.” 

For a moment the only noises heard in the darkened street were the distant sounds of traffic and those few night animals brave enough to venture into the dark spring night. Riley had said nothing, not sure of the dynamics here and unsure who this Wolfram & Hart were though they seemed somewhat familiar. 

Finally Cordelia looked skyward. “You hate me don’t you? You really, really hate me. Is it because of some imagined infraction? Because I came back and didn’t stay there? Because I’m not some mighty and all powerful warrior? Why, WHY?” She screamed, throwing her hand into the air in a beseeching manner. 

Turning to Riley she muttered, “The fates are against us, you know that, right?” Then back to Carisa, “The enemy of my enemy and so on, is it? Fine, whatever, I’m going to die, I just know this but damn it, couldn’t it have NOT been at the hands of former friends? Fine, fine, whatever,” she said repeating herself, “tell me what you know.” 

“Much more than you, it would appear. What kind of fighters are you, anyway?” 

Riley took that opportunity to step a menacing step forward, “The kind that can easily break you in half if the information you provide isn’t…satisfactory.” 

Cordelia looked at her companion. “What are you,” she mumbled, “The Wookie of our story?” 

Carisa hid a smile at the couple before her. Lilah had never told her how entertaining it was to bait the opposition. Still, she needed them to find her boss and if in securing their help she told them certain things…it couldn’t really be helped then, could it? 

“I’m sure you’re aware, Ms. Chase, of The White Room?” At Cordelia’s reluctant nod Carisa continued, “There’s not as much information there as the partners at Wolfram & Hart like to think. Your worst suspicions? They’ve come true.” 

Riley seemed to deflate before Cordelia’s eyes and she was sure her response was just as discouraging. Great, soulless Angelus and soulless vampire Buffy, together, just great. Her world was now perfect. 

“Let’s go someplace else and discuss this, shall we? I’m feeling the sudden need to sit down…and maybe have a nice stiff drink or two.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
All the guests’ needs were seen to; rooms had been prepared for those who were staying, arrangements for transportation for those, which turned out to be the majority, who were not. However, it was still a few hours until sunrise and most everyone was involved in one…activity or another. 

The technical term would be, Giles supposed, a mass orgy.

In point of fact, there were several areas in the main floors where one could indulge oneself. Apparently even horny demons were discriminatory, who would have ever thought that? However, everyone seemed to be having an…enjoyable time.
Still, everything was taken care of: the minions were to see to those leaving and everyone staying already knew where they were to wait out the daylight hours. Although from the looks of things, some of their ‘guests’ were going to be staying right where they dropped, or where they were dropped…

Suppressing a smirk Giles moved through the outer rooms back to the ballroom where Buffy and Angelus were holding court. It was politic to at least great the hosts and in this case, better all around for your health.

The stage where their chairs stood was no longer in shadow and the couple watched their greeters with a predatory gaze that made even the strongest demon tremble. The power flowing off the pair was enough to give pause to any thoughts of immediate overthrow and this time Giles allowed the smirk to appear.

Yes, he thought as he leaned over Angelus’ shoulder, he had indeed made the right choice when he had thrown his fate with his darling daughter and her lover. Any remaining contempt he felt for the older vampire was rapidly disappearing under the knowledge that not only did he and Angelus have more in common than anyone would have thought, but that they had an almost overwhelming devotion to the same woman. 

Buffy meant too much to Giles to cause her any moment grief, and he not being a part of their ultimate plan would have done so.

“Everything has been seen to, Angelus.” Giles said in a low whisper that only Buffy could hear. “Spike and Drusilla have retired to their rooms, Paul and Willow are awaiting your signal, and the minions seem to be doing their job just fine.”

Nodding Angelus didn’t let his eyes wander form those in front of him though most of his attention was focused on Giles. “Good, good, have Willow double check the spells, and add one to the perimeter. I know we have guards there as well, but it’s always better to have more. It would be…embarrassing to have an attack today.”

“Agreed,” Giles nodded not missing the menace in Angelus’ voice at the order.  At such an early stage of their plan to have it fall apart now would endear no one to his sire’s mate. “I’ll have her see to it immediately. These are the last of the…‘well wishers’ I take it?”

“Tedious, I know, but necessary. Wait until they’re done then you may retire as well…just in case.” He wasn’t worried, but why take the chance? He had told Buffy that he only trusted her, and he did, but he believed in Giles’ absolute devotion to his love and that was almost enough for him. “Oh and…lock the doors before you retire.”

At Giles’ questioning look Angelus shrugged, a slight frown marring his features. “I don’t know,” he answered the unspoken question. “Just don’t want to take any chances. Tonight has gone better than any of us expected, wouldn’t want to ruin it because of a little carelessness.”

“Agreed,” Giles nodded and stood back signaling the next vampire to step forward.

For the next forty minutes the theme was the same. “Honor to meet you, Angelus and Buffy of Aurelius… reverence to you and your order…respect to you and your clan…” On and on it went with only slight variations on the same. 

Angelus listened with half an ear, making the appropriate responses where necessary, listening to Buffy’s replies. She had picked up on the whole thing rather quickly, he had taken some time to explain things to her, but they had been busy with plans for the party and making and training minions that her education on the finer points of this night somehow got pushed to the background. 

He watched her out of the corner of his eye, noting how the light sparkled off the stones in her necklace, the rubies becoming deeper with every move of her head. Her emerald ring caught the light as she raised her left hand in greeting and a fierce protectiveness swept through him. 

‘Mine,’ he thought as he thanked yet another vampire for his words of greeting. 

Drusilla had done her hair, swept up in loose curls that fell over her creamy shoulders in invitation, ropes of diamonds and rubies holding the long silken strands in place. Angelus growled quietly as he answered the last of the guests, thankful that this monotonous task was finally over. 

His minions would see to the rest of the guests’ needs, knowing their place and the wrath of their masters should anything not go as they wanted. Willow and Giles had already ensured that any area of the mansion they didn’t want visitors in was sealed off both maigckally and with good old-fashioned locks. 

Food and drink was still in steady supply and all enjoyed the evening’s entertainment if the sounds coming from the outer rooms were any indication. 

He turned slightly to Giles but the other man was already moving about to see to any last minute needs before retiring to his own enjoyment; enjoyment which seemed to include Saffir. Just as well, she was already family, Angelus thought as he turned to Buffy, holding out a hand to her. She rose gracefully, eyes locked with his, knowing that their own fun was about to begin. 

“Dance with me again, love?” Buffy asked as they made their way off the stage. 

It had been interminable hours since they had begun receiving ‘well-wishers’; she was bored and had way too much energy. While she knew the perfect means to expend some of that energy and eagerly looked forward to that later, Buffy wanted to take this rare opportunity to dance with her mate. 

She loved being held close to his body, the feeling of those strong arms wrapped around her. The thought of what those muscles could and would do to her gave Buffy pause as they moved about the dance floor, but she held herself in check. 

Maybe just one song…

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